Australia's Sam Kerr comes second behind Alexia Putellas for FIFA best women's player, as Robert Lewandowski wins the men's award

Sam Kerr has been beaten to the FIFA best women's player of the year award by Barcelona's Alexia Putellas.

The Matildas captain came second to Putellas, with another Spanish midfielder, Jenni Hermoso, also of European Champions League winners Barcelona, in third.

Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich and Poland won the men's award ahead of Lionel Messi and Mo Salah.

The awards were held in Zurich though most guests appeared by video link. The Australian captain was not on screen as she is preparing for the Matildas' opening Asian Cup tie in India on Friday.

Kerr surprisingly did not make the FIFPRO women's world XI, but neither did Putellas or Hermoso in a very odd selection that did not include any players from either Barcelona or Tokyo Olympics gold medallists Canada.

Kerr's boss at Chelsea, Emma Hayes, was women's football manager of the year, with Thomas Tuchel, also of Chelsea, taking the men's award.

International captains, coaches and selected media are included in the vote. Kerr herself voted for Putellas, Barcelona and Norway's Caroline Graham Hansen, and Hermoso in the players' category.

As coach, she voted for Hayes, Barcelona's Lluis Cortes and Bev Priestman of Canada.

Tony Gustavsson, Matildas' coach, voted for Kerr, Putellas and Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema.

Kerr polled 38 points, 14 behind Putellas and five ahead of Hermoso.

The 27-year-old Putellas was at the heart of the Barcelona women's team that won the Spanish league and the UEFA Champions League.

The prolific striker Lewandowski won the award for the second straight year after a season in which he beat Gerd Mueller's 49-year-old record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga campaign.

In addition to the coaching awards, Chelsea enjoyed further recognition with their